Cambridge's ART wins big at Elliot Norton awards

Tuesday

May 20, 2014 at 10:13 AMMay 20, 2014 at 2:52 PM

Cambridge’s American Repertory Theatre was a big winner last night at the 32nd annual Elliot Norton Awards, taking home prizes for production, design and directing, and actor Bryan Cranston, who has taken his portrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson to Broadway, won for outstanding actor with his presidential role in the ART’s "All the Way."Lowell native and Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the event which was held at the Wheelock Family Theatre and presented by the Boston Theatre Critics Association. The awards are named in honor of longtime Boston theater critic Elliot Norton, who died in 2003.The event was emceed by Wayland’s Joyce Kulhawik, president of the BTCA, and featured performances by cast members of the Stonehame Theatre’s "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Gold Dust Orphans’ "It’s A Horrible Life" and the Wheelock Family Theatre’s "Hairspray."Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and former Gov. Michael Dukakis, cousin of Olivia Dukakis, gave remarks. Awards were presented in memory of longtime ART company member Jeremy Geidt, actress Julie Harris, and the Huntington Theatre Company’s former artistic director Nicholas Martin, who died April 30.Here is the list of award winners:Elliot Norton Lifetime Achievement Award: Olympia DukakisElliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence: Paul Daigneault, SpeakEasy Stage CompanyOutstanding Visiting Production: "Mies Julie, Baxter Theatre Centre; presented by ArtsEmersonOutstanding Production by a Large Resident Theater: "All the Way," American Repertory TheatreOutstanding Production by a Midsize Theater: "Tribes," SpeakEasy Stage CompanyOutstanding Production by a Small Theater: "The Flick," Company One; co-presented by Suffolk UniversityOutstanding Production by a Fringe Theater: "Punk Rock," Zeitgeist Stage CompanyOutstanding Design, Large Theater: "The Heart of Robin Hood," American Repertory Theater Set Design by Borkur Johnsson, Costumes by Emma Ryott, Lighting by Bjorn Helgason, Sound by Jonathan DeansOutstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater: "The Flick," Company One; co-presented by Suffolk University. Scenic Design by Cristina Todesco, Lighting by Jen rock, Costumes by Amanda Maciel Antunes, Sound by Edward Young, Props Master Anita ShriverOutstanding Musical Production by a Large Theater: "The Jungle Book," Huntington Theatre CompanyOutstanding Musical Production by a Midsize, Small or Fringe Company: "Hairspray," Wheelock Family TheatreOutstanding Musical Performance by an Actor: Francis Jue, "Miss Saigon," North Shore Music TheatreOutstanding Musical Performance by an Actress: Aimee Doherty, "On the Town" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston) and "Hairspray" (Wheelock Family Theatre)Outstanding New Script: "Windowmen" by Steven Barkhimer, Boston Playwrights’ TheatreOutstanding Director, Large Theater: Gisli Orn Gardarsson, "The Heart of Robin Hood," American Repertory TheatreOutstanding Director, Midsize Theater: Ilyse Robbins, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Stoneham TheatreOutstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater: David J. Miler, "Punk Rock" and "The Normal Heart," Zeitgeist Stage CompanyOutstanding Actor, Large Theater: Bryan Cranston, "All the Way," American Repertory TheatreOutstanding Actress, Large Theater: Andera Syglowski, "Venus in Fur," Huntington Theatre CompanyOutstanding Actor, Midsize Theater: Jeremiah Kissel, "Imagining Madoff," New Repertory TheatreOutstanding Actress, Midsize Theater: Erica Spyres, "Tribes,"SpeakEasy Stage CompanyOutstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater: Alex Pollock, "This Is Our Youth (Gloucester Stage Company), "Windowmen" (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre), and "The Flick" (Company One; co-presented by Suffolk University)Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater: Maureen Adduci, "The Normal Heart," Zeitgeist Stage companyOutstanding Ensemble, Large Theater: "The Seagull," Huntington Theatre CompanyOutstanding Ensemble, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater: "Hairspray," Wheelock Family TheatreFor more information, visit http://nortonawardsboston.com or on Facebook or Twitter @nortonawards.